Touch 500-Million-Year-Old Fossils in Canada's Rockies

Imagine holding a fossil so old it predates dinosaurs by hundreds of millions of years, so well preserved you can see the creature's brain.

That's exactly what hikers can experience on guided treks through Yoho and Kootenay National Parks in British Columbia. Starting January 20, 2026, Parks Canada opens reservations for their Burgess Shale fossil hikes, where visitors access UNESCO-protected sites filled with 500-million-year-old marine creatures turned to stone.

These aren't ordinary fossils. The Burgess Shale is famous worldwide because soft tissues like eyes, guts, and even brains survived the fossilization process. Most fossils only preserve hard parts like bones and shells, but these ancient ocean animals were buried so quickly in underwater mudslides that incredible details remain visible today.

The three hikes offer different experiences for different fitness levels. The Walcott Quarry trek is the most challenging at 24 kilometers with stunning views along the way. Mount Stephen focuses on trilobites with a shorter but steep 8-kilometer route. Stanley Glacier provides the most accessible option at 10 kilometers, perfect for families wanting to see newly discovered fossils with features like third eyes and jackknife claws.

What makes these hikes special is the access. Two of the sites, Mount Stephen and Walcott Quarry, can only be visited with Parks Canada guides. Visitors don't just look at fossils behind glass. They actually hold them in their hands, connecting physically with creatures that swam in shallow seas before life even existed on land.

Why This Inspires

These fossils tell the story of where we came from. The ancient ocean creatures preserved in the Burgess Shale are our evolutionary ancestors, part of the explosion of life that eventually led to every animal alive today, including humans.

Expert interpreters lead every hike, sharing scientific discoveries and explaining how ongoing research protects these fragile ecosystems. The experience combines physical challenge, breathtaking mountain scenery, and the chance to literally touch deep time. Hikers leave with more than photos; they carry memories of holding life from an alien world that existed on this same planet.

Parks Canada has made booking simple through their online reservation system or by calling their toll-free number. The hikes run all summer, with early morning starts to maximize time at the fossil sites.

These mountains hold secrets from when Earth looked nothing like today, and now anyone ready for an adventure can discover them firsthand.